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VERSES BY 

iJJtratt&a J^nhi^ra S>m^ttsntt 




Boston 
1904 



' ^ \ »'> "? '" j' 



Copyright, 1903, by Miranda Powers Swenson 
All Rights Reserved 



[thp library or 

i CONGRESS, 
Ti*o Cortt^e Receiveo 









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Printed at 
The Gorham Press 
' \ Boston 



To the Little Son John 



U'V 


iitviivs^ 


PAGES 


At Twilight . 


. 


7 


Love's Fear 


. 


8 


Invitation 


. 


9 


The Coming Brotherhood of Man 


10 


Her Face 


. 


11 


Glorified 


, 


12 


A Change of Opinion 


. 


13 


Love and Fame 


. 


14 


Appellations . 


. 


15 


Autumn 


. 


16 


A Wise Purpose 


. 


17 


To Grandmother on 


Her Eighty-Seconc 




Birthday . 


. 


17 


In Lover's Lane 


. 


18 


In Lover's Lane 


. 


19 


Autumn Wind 


* • • 


20 


Found 


, . , 


20 


A Tramp 


. 


21 


To C. D. C. on His Birthday . 


22 


Ecstacies 


. 


22 


Apart 


. 


23 


In Search of Health 


. 


24 


Cradle Song 


. 


25 



James Whitcomb Riley 






26 


A Cry for Mother-Love . 






27 


Reminders . . . . 






28 


To C. D. C. on His Birthday 






29 


The Deacon's Apple Tree 






30 


Then and Now 






31 


The Reason . 








32 


Melodies 








33 


To My Friend 








34 


The Missing Link 








35 


Enduring 








36 


Grandmother 








37 


Grandmother 








38 


A Night Thought 








39 


A Valentine 








40 


Sent with Flowers to C. A. M 


. on ] 


Her 




Birthday . 






41 


With Passing Night 






42 


Freedom of the Praii 


"ies . 






43 



There's nothing in the day, I know, 
So sad as when the sunset glow 

Fades in the West' away; 
O twilight hour! O sweet, sad time! 
When daylight wanes, and vespers chime, 

'Tis neither night nor da}^ 

The dark shades fold me in their gloom, 
As slow they creep from room to room, 

But love-light still have I; 
The hour itself doth mournful seem. 
Alone I sit in happy dream. 

While darkness clouds the sk3\ 

'Tis now, dear one, a voice I hear. 
So low, so soft, so sweet, so clear, 

I know it to be thine; 
" I love thee, dear, with all my heart. 
Though many miles do still us part, 

I love thee, Sweetheart mine.'' 

Then through the dusk I see thy face. 
And feel thee near in close embrace, 

Through all the glad twilight. 
O! sweet at close of drear}^ day. 
When darkness gathers 'round my way, 

To sit and wait the night. 



Xove'6 fcav 

Sometimes this thought stabs deep my 

heart, 
Like sharpened spear, or whetted dart. 
That some day in the coming time. 
When snows lie deep, or roses climb, 
You may forget; 

That some day I may raise my eyes 
To read the love that in yours lies. 
And find but cold indifference. 
Where passion late, with love intense, 
Had bright flames set. 

Some day perhaps my lips may press 
Yours cold, unfeeling, answerless; 
My hand's firm pressure then may be 
Unrecognized by touch from thee 
Of strong, warm palm. 
Change is a law that works alway 
Through Nature old, from day to day; 
The roses fade when Summer's past. 
Green leaves shrivel in Wintry blast, 
Or frost's chill calm. 



And so thy heart may change, dear one, 
And grow less warm, as does the Sun 
To Earth, when Winter's time is here, 
And days are cold, and nights are drear. 
With snow beset. 

Sometimes my heart is still with fear. 
Lest all that makes my poor life dear. 
And gives me jo}^ each dawning day, 
Should be forever snatched away, 
And you forget. 

Ifnvitation 

Come and kiss me. Sweetheart mine. 
Let me feel the touch divine, 
Of thy lips' soft, sweet caress; 
Set the red blood coursing through 
Heart that beats and throbs for you. 
By one touch of tenderness. 

Like the parched earth that waits 

For the op'ning of flood-gates. 

So pause I in eagerness; 

As the rains new life impart. 

So comes strengthening to my heart. 

By thy sweet lips' soft caress. 



Zbc doming ffirotbcrboo& of fiDan 

Through the many jangling discords 

Of full countless Christian creeds, 
Each contending theirs the doctrine 

That will meet all human needs, 
It is difficult to fathom, 

In the loud uproar and strife. 
Just the measure of relation 

Each bears to the Prince of Life. 

O, how simple is the story 

Of the lowly Saviour's love, 
Who a full salvation gave men. 

Exiled from the Courts above ! 
What rebuke is offered daily 

In the record of His life, 
To the loud-contending bodies 

Who are sowing seeds of strife! 

When the lowly Nazarene 

Trod the path unto the cross. 
Thought he not ol cruel passion, 

Of his suffering and loss; 
But his pure lips framed a prayer 

For the Church that bears His name. 
That they might be one in purpose 

Those for whom He bore the shame. 

10 



Nineteen centuries have fallen 

Into Time's measure of woe; 
Still divisions wide, unbridged, 

Rend His Body here below. 
God in Heaven, speed the coming 

Of the Brotherhood of man. 
When a broad, impelling kinship 

All the diffrences shall span! 

Iber face 

Like a star, in the deepening dusk 

Of the years 

That are past, with their burden of pain 

And of tears. 

Is her face glowing bright in her youth's 

Rosy dawn. 

With a smile, tender, sweet, through the 

years 
That are gone. 

Nevermore save in fanc}' her face 
Shall I see, 

Till at last my lone spirit from earth's 
Care is free; 

Then I know I shall find Paradise 
In that place. 

Where with rapture ecstatic I shall 
See her face. 

11 



(3lorifie& 

A silver sheen is on the sea, 
The white spray gleams translucently, 
Each playful wave is tinsel-crested 
Where moonbeams lie in soft foam nested, 
The shim'ring waves in gladness leap, 
Night's Queen is mirrored in the deep. 

But late today an angry sea 
In billows lashed unceasingly; 

Its sombre shade of darksome green 
Bore not a trace of silv'ry sheen; 
But when in evening's trysting hour. 
The fair moon came with love's great 

power. 
The sea glimmered effulgent, white. 
And shone and glistened all the night. 

A radiance bright o'er my life gleams. 
Surpassing all my wildest dreams. 
My soul is bathed in waves of light. 
My heart is quickened with delight; 
My pulses in strange madness leap. 
Thy face I see, awake, asleep. 

But late my heart with wild unrest 
Surged ever, by dull pain oppressed, 

12 



My life was commonplace, dead, gray. 
Dark, cloudy, threat'ning dawned each 

day; 
Then lo, thou camest and 'twas light! 
My life took on tints rainbow bright. 
My heart was calmed, soothed, satisfied, 
My whole life blessed and glorified. 

H Cbange of ©pinion 

TO HIS AUBURN-HAIRED GIRL 

Sweet auburn ! loveliest color of the hair. 
Fit crown of glory for my lady fair; 
Thy changing shades of burnished gold, 
Have won my heart, my life to hold: 
For one wee, shining curl I sigh, 
For thee, sweet maid, I live, I'd die. 

TO HIS RED-HEADED WIFE 

That's right! Get mad — for nothing, too; 
Your temper makes me mighty blue ! 
I might have known it, I suppose, 
That head of yours, red as a rose! 
One thing I'll say, though your eyes flash, 
I'm tired of red hairs in the hash! 



13 



%ovc anb ffame 

A young girl sat in a garden fair 

Breathing aloud a fervent prayer: 

" God of my life, for fame I plead, 

In mercy give, 'tis all I need." 

While thus she spoke Love came along, 

With tender look and sweetest song. 

Alas for fame! with cunning art 

Love made his own the maiden's heart. 

And once again on bended knee, 

The 3^oung girl sent to God a plea: 

" Dear Lord, O God! for Love I plead, 

Mine, ever mine, 'tis all I need." 

No more she tho't of worldly fame, 

Nor cared she for a lauded name. 

Ah Love! what gentle power thou hast, 
To sway the world while Time shall last; 
Yea, glory more than this is thine. 
Heaven is ruled by Love Divine. 



14 



appcUatione 

A walk by an ocean, boundless, 
A sight of the surging brine, 
A glimpse of a land far distant, 
One note of a song divine; 
A taste of Infinite Love, 
Of peace in a world of strife, 
Dull care and aching sorrow, 
We mortals call it Life. 

When we cross the ocean wide. 
With silver foam atrack, 
When toward the fair land sighted 
We sail, ne'er turning back. 
When we join the glad, sweet song. 
Voices keyed to Heaven's lay, 
And the peace no mortal knoweth, 
Lulls the soul forever, aye. 
If we muse on time of earth, 
When we drew our mortal breath, 
On the sorrow-stricken years, 
We shall call it only Death. 



15 



Hutumn 

Each season has delights 

To captivate the mind, 
Gay Spring her charming moods 

Of shine, and shower, and wind. 

Long days and star-lit eves 
Rose-perfumed, dewy, clear, 

The siren Summer flings 
With laughter to the year. 

But more entrancing far 

Than Summer's witching wiles. 
Or Spring's tender beauty 

And sweet, capricious smiles. 

Is Autumn, glorious time! 

Of seasons richest, rare. 
Glad days of golden harvest, 

Long nights of mellow air. 



1(3 



H Mi0e purpose 

Of what avail the sorrow 

That one time wrenched my soul, 
When each prospective morrow 

Held grief beyond control ? 

Has woe to man no mission, 

No life-lesson to teach? 
Grief softens to contrition 

Hearts kindness ne'er could reach. 

God sends us not all pleasure, 

Afflictions too we need; 
Pure love we can not measure, 

Flows from lone hearts that bleed. 



Zo (Branbmotber ®n 1bcr y£\Qht% 
Secont) Birtb&ai? 

When passing years and weighty, 
Have made me two and eighty, 
O! may I on that day. 
Have e'en the smallest fraction 
Of grace and that attraction 
Which Gnmdma has alway. 



17 



Iln Xo\)er*9 %nnc 

The grass still grows, a cushion soft 
For tripping, youthful feet, 

The trees still cast their shadows long, 
O'erhead tall branches meet. 

From out the emerald, grassy sod 
A violet peeps with drooping face. 

And lilies white and sweetly pure 
Still grov/ in stately grace. 

I tread again the well-worn path. 
We called it " Lover's Lane," 

Alone with dearest memories, 
My heart throbs but with pain. 

Long years have gone since Prue and I 
Strolled down the lane together. 

She vowing that her love would last 
Through fair or stormy weather. 

Our faces glowed with Love's pure light. 
Our lips told Love's old story. 

And ever}^ leaf and flower seemed 
Alight with life and glory. 



18 



The years stretched out before us two 

An avenue of pleasure, 
No sorrows loomed up in our way, 

But joys, and without measure. 

O ! little maid with laughing eyes. 

And lips just made to kiss, 
We could not see adown the years 

Our love-dream come to this. 

I hold again yoTir dimpled hand 
Within my sun-browned one, 

My lips meet thine with lingering touch, 
The world forgot, with thy love won. 

'Tis but a mem'ry of the past; 

I walk alone the leafy aisle, 
Still haunted by a low, sweet voice, 

A winsome, shadowy smile. 

The path is worn, and travelled still 

By lass and tender swain; 
The evening shades still bring as then 

The youth to " Lover's Lane." 



19 



autumn M(n6 

Through bending trees 

The Autumn breeze 
Sighs weirdly on its way; 

' Mong faded leaves, 

Ungarnered sheaves, 
It whistles all the day, 

A mournful tune, 

MemV}^ of June, 
Of woods now brown and sear; 

A funVal song 

Of seasons long 
Dead, buried in the 3xar. 

fount) 

I have it, dear, she cried. 

Then peacefully she died; 

What wonder that she couldn't stand the 

shock! 
Then the neighbors gathered 'round. 
To see what she had found. 
'Twas a pocket in her new cloth frock! 



20 



H tTranip 

A hungry lad 

All lean and sad, 
Sat over against the garden wall; 

His coat was old, 

Like the tale he told, 
And his collar — he had none at all. 

But pockets he had. 

And he felt so bad 
rhat the}^, too, were empty and flat, 

As he sat alone 

On a wa3'side stone. 
And chewed at the rim of his hat. 

Just over the wall. 

On the trees so tall, 
\Vere pears and peaches hanging; 

He looked and wished. 

And reached and flshed. 
Then over the fence went banging. 

One stifled moan, 

One dying groan. 
And he passed to a world of plenty. 

His tombstone bears 

A peach, two pears. 
And " He died of greed. Aged twenty." 

21 



^0 d. H). C. on Ibie Blrtbba\) 

Another 3xar to count as thine, 

To make thy number twenty-nine; 

A year untried, unknown, untrod. 

Another season sent from God. 

Oh, ma}^ it prove a joyous time! 

Bright days, glad months, a happy chime! 

A year of joy from hrst to end, 

A year of good things for my friend. 

And I shall happy, thankful be, 

To know the time was glad for thee. 

The singer's voice is stilled 

When his soul to depths is stirred, 
Else a song, emotion-filled, 

That the earth has never heard. 
Would the silent spaces thrill. 

The painter's brushes wait 

While the grandest visions throng. 
Else a theme of nobler fate, 

With angelic phases strong, 
Would the snow}' canvas till. 



22 



apart 

But yesterday I saw thy face, 

And heard thy voice, dear Love, 

But yesterday the sun was bright, 
And blue the sky above. 

But yesterday my hand was clasped 
By thine, tender and strong, 

But yesterda}^ joy filled my heart 
And caroled Love's sweet song. 

Today the leaden skies hang low. 

No sun shines on my way, 
And joy has flown, I know not where. 

And all is dark, today. 

I long for but a single look 

From eyes so dear to me; 
I reach my arms in emptiness, 

No answering touch from thee. 

My heart cries out in loneliness. 

In grief I cannot hide; 
For just one sight of thy dear face 

I'd give all things beside. 



23 



The day is bright or dark, as thou "i 

Art near or far from me; 
I long, dear one, for just one word 

Of tenderness from thee. 

Iln Scarcb of Ibealtb 

I walked abroad at night- fall, 

When dark'ning shades drew nigh, 
I met a man of wealth sedate, 

A villager of station high. 

Ye gods! how strange a sight is this, 

At night upon the quiet street, 
A proud, a cultured citizen 

With smile serene, and bold, bare feet. 



24 



Cra&le Qowq 

Baby dear, I bend above thee, 

Leaning o'er thy cradle low, 
Slumber song still crooning softly, 

As the night-shades gather slow. 

Little One, I fain would keep thee 

Pure and innocent alway, 
But the great world's sin and sorrow 

Thou wilt surely know some day. 

Soon thy tender feet must travel 
Down life's thorny path alone; 

God in mercy guide thee. Sweetheart, 
Keep thee from each thorn and stone. 

May the tender, loving Saviour 

Ever have a watchful care 
O'er thee. Baby, through thy life-day, 

Keep thy soul still pure and fair. 

Baby dear, I bend above thee, 

Leaning o'er thy cradle low. 
Slumber song still crooning softly. 

As the night-shades gather slow. 



25 



Samee Mbitcomb IRilc^ 

Fancies delicate and graceful 

As frail woodland blossoms fair, 
Or soft, filmy fleece-clouds floating 

Leisurely through Summer air, 
Find the sweetest of expression 

In his verses' faultless flow, 
Lure and lead us gently backward 

To the Land of Long Ago. 
Songs of love divinely tender, 

With eternal youth replete. 
Make our heart-chords softly vibrate 

To a melody full sweet. 
Faint perfume of wayside flowers. 

Hum of bees and trill of birds. 
Weave a spell enchanting 'round us 

Through the rh3'thm of his words. 
In the jo3^ous realm of childhood 

Reigns and rules this Poet-king, 
Cares we leave to follow gladl}^ 

Small hands sweetly beckoning 
From the lines of verse and ballad. 

Till we reach a sunlit plain. 
With the flight of Time turned backward, 

We are children once asjain. 

26 



H dv^ for flDotbcr^lovc 

Tonight great waves of sadness roll 
Like mighty billows- o'er my soul; 
I feel afresh the loss that left 
Me of a Mother's love bereft, 
In childhood's day. 

Mother! sainted long above, 
Tonight I sadly miss thy love; 

1 fain would find a tranquil rest 

For throbbing head, on Mother's breast 
In the old way. 

Mother, thy hand could soothe the pain 
Of aching heart and tired brain, 
And in the shelter of thy arm, 
Secure from all earth's care and harm, 

I'd go to sleep. 
O Mother! in the far-off sky 
Hear now, tonight, my heart's sad cry; 
Come back, and lull me now to rest, 
Like tired child, on thy dear breast. 

Then love-watch keep. 



27 



1Reinln&cr6 

I lay them, Love, with tears away, 
The flowers you sent one happy day, 
Now brown with time, and faded, sere, 
Dead blossoms of another year; 
Like that unhappy love of ours. 
Frail as the life of Summer flowers. 

O roses tombed in fragrance sweet! 

love wrapped 'round with sorrow's 

sheet! 
With tender touch, in joy, in pain. 
With tears that drop like Autumn rain, 

1 lay them by, this love, these flowers, 
The ghosts of other days and hours. 

And yet, alas ! though buried deep. 
And lulled by Time to quiet sleep, 
A perfume faint, and sweet, and rare. 
Like breath of flowers on Summer air, 
A thought of joy, of love a part. 
These oft disturb my mind and heart. 



28 



^0 C. ID. C. on me Birtb&a^ 

I watched today 
The sun's last ray 
Make bright the clouds of night, 
And then and there, 
The daylight fair 
Slow faded from my sight. 

For one brief while, 
The sun's glad smile 

Made all around more sweet; 
Then dark'ning shade, 
O'er hill and glade. 

Bespoke the night's swift feet. 

My dearest friend. 

Till time shall end 
M^y joy and peace abound. 

And God's own light, 

Of truth and right. 
Shine o'er you all around. 

And may each year 

Find you sincere 
In all good works and true, 

And birthdays, glad 

As those you've had, 
Come many times to you. 

29 



^be Beacon'e Hpple Zvcc 

One Arbor Day, old Deacon Jones 
Cleared weeds away, and sticks and 

stones, 
From out one tiny, corner spot 
Of his old, grassy pasture lot; 
And there, with calm and serious glee, 
He planted deep an apple tree. 
Then thinking how the apples sweet 
In coming years he'd gladly eat, 
He went his way; not dreaming how 
Some naughty boys in yonder mow, 
Had watched him as their plans they 

laid, 
To come that night with hoe and spade. 
To carry off the Deacon's tree. 
And leave instead, — well, we shall see. 

Long years had passed in joy away, 
When Deacon, walking out one day. 
Bethought him of his apple tree. 
And wondered if there fruit might be. 
How strange a sight now met his eyes! 
Poor Deacon fainted with surprise. 
For growing there in proud array 
Were pears in all their colors gay. 

30 



Z\)cn anb IFlow 

Two pieces of tin, 

Pictures of me, 

One taken years and years apast; 

One tiny, wee face, 

And one weary look, 

But yesterday I sat for the last. 

Two and twenty, 

Child and woman, 

O! the change that time has wrought; 

Joys and sighs, 

Smiles and tears. 

Careless play and happy thought. 

Then, " Now I lay me," 

Now, " God forgive ! " 

O! the guileless babyhood; 

A mother's kiss, 

A mother's knee. 

What wonder that the child was good ? 

Years have gone, 

I am alone. 

Weather-beaten and tempest-tossed; 

No good-night kiss, 

I pray alone. 

And sleep to dream of mother lost. 

31 



^be IReaeon 

See the string of old maids 

Going to the store, 
Such a sight in our town 

Was never seen before. 

What can be the matter? 

In her Sunday best, 
Every maiden's heart beats 

With a strange unrest. 

What can be the reason ? 

Plain as plain can be ! 
The grocer has a new clerk 

Young and fair to see. 

Every blushing old maid 

Cherishes a hope, 
While she drops a courtesy, 

And buys a cake of soap. 



32 



nDclobiee 

I ope' my window-lattice wide 

To greet the day adawn outside 

With rosy flush of Eastern sky, 

And clouds of opal floating by. 

A blue-bird on a rose-tree near 

Loud sings a song of joy and cheer, 

Of shady gardens dewy cool, 

Sweet flowers mirrored in deep pool, 

Of sunshine filtered through green trees. 

Of perfumes borne on Summer breeze; 

I listen, while a sweeter note 

Than ever left a blue-bird's throat 

Thrills deep my soul, a mem'r)^ dear, 

A voice, thine own it is I hear: 

No note in angel song can be 

A sweeter sound than this to me. 



LofO.f 



33 



^0 flD^ ]frlcn&. 

Whatever Fortune, fickle maid, 
Into my cup may choose to pour, 

I shall hold her a witless jade 

Unless thy friendship brims it o'er. 

Not wealth of Ophir's fabled gold. 
Nor favor shown by King or State, 

E'en all my little life might hold. 

Could for thy friendship compensate. 

Fortune may fame and riches great 
Withhold, save for my direst need, 

Then shall I bless the kindly Fate, 
And count myself favored indeed, 

If thy hand may reach mine, my friend. 
Through all the years to come. 

Until the day of life shall end. 
Then lead me gently Home. 



34 



At the show I wandered 'round, 

Till the monkey's cage I found 
(Each attraction tried to ostracize the 
other,) 

Here I stopped to fraternize, 

Incidentally to size 
Up the link that bound me to my brother. 

I determined not to see. 
And by no means to agree 
With the theory that Darwin almost 
proved, 
But the men upon life's stage, 
And the monkeys in the cage, 
I was forced to see were cousins once 
removed. 

While I cogitated there, 

On the common fate we share 

In belonging to the tricky monkey lot, 
I couldn't help but think 
Of the long-lost missing link, 

That has caused the wisest sages anxious 
thought. 



35 



Soon there strutted by 
A spectacle that I 
Could scarcely then behold without a 
smile; 
His eye of glass, and cane, 
Balanced up his lack of brain. 
And his clothes were in the very latest 
style. 

Then I knew that I had found 
The missing link that bound, 
'Twas a creature we had simply called the 
dude ; 
I wondered what the dozen 
Apes thought of their cousin, 
But I knew to ask the question would be 
rude. 

JEn^urinQ 

The world hath its pleasures 

For one little day. 
The world hath its sorrows, 

They soon speed away; 
But Love hath its joys. 

Forever they last, 
And Love hath its woes 

Until Time is past. 

36 



(Branbmotbcr 

When the sun is sinking earthward, 
With the western sky aflame, 

And the day is slowly fading 

Into night, from whence it came, 

By the curtained window's casement 
Is Grandmother idly sitting, 

Dear hands folded now and empty. 
On her lap unfinished knitting. 

Her dear face is softly lighted 
With day's golden afterglow; 

Hair once brown is white and silvered 
With life's wintry frost and snow. 

Just a little on before her 

Lies Eternal Morning bright, 

Where the shadows, gath'ring darkly. 
Shall give way to Endless Light; 

And the weary soul find peaceful 
Rest in Everlasting Truth, 

And the body, tired and aged. 
Take on glad, unchanging youth. 



Do her dim eyes look far backward 
Down the vista of the past, 

Till they see a vision perfect 
Of her girlhood days at last? 

Does she live again in mem'ry 
That far time when, as a bride, 

She left all to follow gladl}^ 

Him who was her joy and pride ? 

Does she yearn to clasp once tightly 
In her arms, empty and lone, 

Babes long since now cradled softly. 
Sleeping under carven stone? 

Does she hear the childish prattle 
Of lips bearded long, and see 

Tiny forms, these years grown stately, 
Playing by her mother knee? 

Is her widowed heart still grieving 
For the husband, lover, friend. 

Who, a score of years and over. 
Reached alone his journey's end? 

Dear Grandmother, by the window 
Living o'er the happy past! 

Father, pity us when some day. 
She shall reach the end at last. 

38 



When the shadows shall be lifted 
That now veil the Light and Truth, 

And her patient, gentle spirit 
Shall receive eternal 3'Outh. 

a miGbt ^bouQbt 

A cloud all white and lovely, lay 
Beside the moon at close of day; 
A forest, dark and somber, stood 
Against the sk}^, a gloom}^^ wood. 
Tlie pale moonlight, that shone across 
The trees all dark and damp with moss. 
Made blacker still, in bold relief. 
On silvered sky, each bough and leaf; 
But whiter and more lovel}^ gleamed 
The cloud, as forth the pale light streamed. 
'Tis so with souls in Truth's broad light. 
It shows them white or black with blight. 
Happy the man whose heart is pure, 
Who can the Master's search endure. 



39 



H IDalcntinc 

To be thy friend 
Till life shall end, 

To ever have thee near^ 
For this I pray 
By night, by day, 

Because I love thee, dear. 

This world I'd give. 

If I might live 
So near, so close to thee. 

That nothing would. 

Or ever could 
Divide thy love from me. 



40 



Sent Mitb flomve to C. H. m. on 
Iber Birtb&ai? 

Dear blossoms, fresh and fair, and sweet, 
I lay you at m}^ lady's feet. 
That your sweet breath of perfume rare, 
May speak of da3^s and seasons fair 
That shall be hers in this glad year, 
Whose first May morning dawns so clear. 
And one thing else I'd have her know, 
Please tell her in a whisper low, 
That no one loves her half so well 
As one whose name 3^ou dare not tell. 



41 



mith pasmxQ migbt 

Sometimes when sets the evening sun 

In golden glow, when day is done, 

I almost wish, with passing night 

My weary soul might take its flight. 

To solve the mystery that lies 

Beyond the vast blue of the skies; 

To leave all doubt and darkness here. 

For certainty and vision clear. 

To know at last the Power that holds 

The Universe, and yet unfolds 

Each tiny flower and blade of grass: 

To soar from sphere to sphere, and pass 

To where Truth is, and rest at last 

Full satisfied, all doubtings past. 



42 



Ifrce&om of tbe ipratrtes 

In the city's streets 

I stifle, 

Breathing fumes and heats 

That rifle 

Life of afl its sweets, 

And trifle 

With the red blood in my vein, 

Give me now the breeze 

That blows 

Through the swaying trees. 

And flows 

By green meadow seas. 

And goes, 

Leaving healing in its train. 



43 



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